The Minnesota Vikings traded for wide receiver Adam Thielen, bringing him back to the team after a two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers.
Thielen’s return provides a reliable target for quarterback J.J. McCarthy while the Vikings await the return of their other receivers.
The Minnesota Vikings are getting the band back together.
As injuries and absences take their toll on the receiving room in Minneapolis, the Vikings have turned to a familiar face – Adam Thielen – to help get them through it. The Vikings reacquired their former receiver from the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2027.
Minnesota is coming off a 14-3 season that ended prematurely with a wild card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Armed with a new quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings are loading up to give their young signal caller everything he needs to succeed.
With some reinforcements on the way, the hope in the Twin Cities is that they’ll remain a top team and experience some better playoff fortunes this time around.
That all starts with Thielen, who now heads back to his hometown team after a two-year stint in Carolina. After all, who says you can’t go home?
Here’s a look at the Vikings WR depth chart with Thielen back in the fold.
Vikings WR depth chart
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Adam Thielen
Jalen Nailor
Tai Felton
At full strength, the Vikings WR depth chart looks like a problem for opposing defenses. Unfortunately for them, it will be a while before that happens.
Jefferson is back and ready to go after dealing with a hamstring injury earlier in the offseason, but the outlook for his fellow receivers remains rough.
Addison is serving a three-game suspension for violating the league’s Substances of Abuse Policy, which was announced on Aug. 5. The suspension stems from a 2024 arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in Los Angeles.
Nailor has been sidelined by a hand injury. Head coach Kevin O’Connell noted that the third-year pro is week-to-week as he recovers. It’s unclear if he’ll be ready in time for Week 1, something that likely added to the motivation for a Thielen trade.
Even the depth below Nailor has been tested after Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.
Thielen provides a reliable target for a team that desperately needs one right now. Provided everyone gets healthy, he’ll become a luxury piece as the season rolls on.